Operating mechanism



OPERATING MECHANISM Filed July 31, 1955 bnx/enter:

Hahah R. Bush,

Hs Atto neg.

Patented Dec. 31, 1935 PATENTOFFICE 2,026373 OPERATINGMECHANISM ItalphR.. Bush, Upper Darby, Pm, assignor to General Electric Company, acorporation of New York Application July 31, 1935, Serial No. 34,114

7 ClaimsQ My invention relates to Operating mechanisms, moreparticularly to Operating mechanisms of the trip-free type wherein themechanism can be tripped at any time during the Operating stroke,

and has for its principal object the provision of an improved Operatingmechanism which is simpie and rugged in Construction and efficient,positive and reliable in operation.

My invention will be more fully set forth in the following descriptionreferring to the accompanying drawing, and the features of novelty whichcharacterize my invention will be pointed out With particularity in theclaims annexed to and forming a part of this specification.

1 Refe-rring to the drawing, Fig. 1 is an elevational View, partly insection, of Operating mechanism embodying my invention in the closedposition; Fig. 2 is a 'similar View illustratng the tripping operation,and Fig. 3 illustrates the mechanism in the open and reset position inreadiness for the closing operation. 4

Referring more particularly to Fig. 1, the operating mechanism comprisesessentially actuating means, such as a solenoid l, a collapsiblethrust-transmitting linkage 2, a. latching and tripping device 3 forholding the linkage 2 in thrust-transmitting position, and means to beactuated at 4. In a well known application for mechanisms of this type acircuit breaker (not shown) is closed by the Operating stroke of themechanism and is permitted to open when the meehanism is tripped. Themeans to be actuated is suitably connected to the guiding member 5 whichis in abutting engagement with the roller 6 and which forms a part ofthe thrust-transmitting structure.

As illustrated by Fig. 1, the mechanism is in the closed or restrainingposition preventing lowering or opening movement of the member 5. Thethrust-transmitting or restraining structure comprises a link 7pivotally mounted at 8 on a portion of the stationary mechanism frameand connected at its lower end at 9 to the tripping device 3. Pivotallycarried on the link 1, at o, is a floating lever li having at its freeend a roller !2 and a laterally protruding pin [3, and pivotallyconnected at its other end, at !4, to an intermediate link !5 which isin turn pivotally connected at Hi to the main actuating lever l'l. Leverl'l is pivotally 'mounted at l8 on a stationary portion of the mechanismframe and carries the roller 6 at its free end.

In addition to the tripping device 3, a restrain 6 Collapse of thetoggle 5. The prop s is provided with a suitable stop at 22 for limitingfurther counterclockwise rotation under the infiuence of spring Zi.

The tripping device 3 comprises a link 23 connected at one end, at 9, tothe link 'I and at the 5 other end, at 24, to a link 25 (Fig. 2) whichis in turn pivotally connected at 26 to a portion of the stationaryframe. It will, therefore, be noted (Fig. 1) that the links 23 and 25form a toggie which may be either on dead-center or over- 10 centerdepending on the position of the pivot 24 with respect tor the line ofcenters of the pivot pins at 9 and 29. i In the dead-center andovercenter positions wherein the link 25 abuts an adjustable stop member21 the link 'I is restrained so that the pivot o and the floating leverH are maintained fixed and the prep i9 serves to maintain rigid thetoggle ll-l 5.

The tripping device 3 may be suitably actuated, such as by mechanical orelectrical means, a tripping solenoid being illustrated by way ofexample at 28 and the plunger of the solenoid being beneath the free endof the link 25. For the purpose of latch'ng the toggle 23-25 so as toprevent; tripping thereof when the mechanism is subjected to jars orvibrations, such as due to the impact of the closing solenoid, the link25 is bifurcated and is provided With a latch 29 piV-' otally connectedthereto at the pin 29. The latch 29 is provided with a book extension at39 arranged to engage a flange 3| forming a part of the adjustable stop21.

The latch 29 is above and in alinement with the extension 28' of thetripping solenoid so' that when the solenoid is energized the latch isfirst released from the fixed stop 26 and then travels thorugh a shortdistance to throw the link 25 over center by impact. To this end,- thelatch 25 is provided with a pin 32' which extends through an aperture 33in thelatch 29. The aperture 33, as illustrated, is comparatively largeso as to provide a certain ;degree of lost motion between the latch 29and pin 32 so' that in tripping, the latch 29 is first released and isthen carried upwards by the trip solenoid plunger a short distancebefore striking the link 25 and throwing over center the trippingtoggle; Normally, the latch 29 is biased towards latching position by aspring 34 carried by the link 25.

Fig. 2 illustratesthe tripping operation, the 9 mechanism beingshown inan unstable state of equilibrium and in the process of collapsing andresetting. As above explained, when the tripping operation is initiatedby energization ofthe trip coil 23, the latch 29 is first released tofree the r toggle and subsequently the toggle is actuated over center sothat it no longer restrains the lever 1. The means to be actuated at 5,which is constantly exerting a reactive force tending to move themechanism to the open position, causes through the linkage clockwisemovement O lever 'i so as to Shift the pin [3 ofi the restrainng edge ofthe prop IS. At this point the fioating lever ll is free to rotateclockwise for permitting the complete opening movement of the member 5.

For the purpose of speeding up collapse of the toggle Il-l5 in thetripping operation, thereby increasing the speed of the mechanism, aspring 35 is related to the pivot pins at lo, |4 and !6 so as to exert acollapsing bias on the toggle when it is straightened as in Fig. l. Thespring which is connected to the pivot pin at !4 engages the pins at IDand !6 just prior to final straightening movement of the toggle and isthen fiexed so that the collapsing bias is present at a time when it ismost needed; that is, when the toggle is straight and the mechanicaladvantage comparatvely small. Also the "follow through action of thetripping solenoid likewise serves to speed up the opening operation.That is, any tripping force in excess of that necessary to release thetoggle serves further to bias the toggle towards collapsed position.

Fig. 3 illustrates the mechanism in the completely open and resetposition. When the roller I2 of the fioating lever drops to the positionshown Where it abuts the extension I' of the solenoid plunger, the leverl drops back to its original position so that the toggle 23-25 falls toits reset and latched position. The mechanism is now in readiness forthe closing operation by energization of the Operating solenoid l. Theupward stroke of the solenoid plunger causes counter-clockwise rotationof fioating lever H about its rest'ained pivot I!! and resultant closingmovement of the member 5. During the closing operation the pin !3 slidesalong the edge of the prop !9 and at the end of the stroke the prop IQ,under bias of spring 2l, moves underneath the pin to restrain themechanism in the closed position. During the closing operation thetoggle spring 35 is placed under tension. After the operating stroke thesolenoid is deenergized and drops to the position shown.

It will be apparent that the mechanism is tripree at all positions ofthe Operating plunger during the closing stroke. That is, assumingapplication of the tripping force during the closing stroke, collapse ofthe tripping toggle Will cause the roller !2 to move ofi the solenoidplunger extension and the mechanism to collapse.

It should be understood that my invention is not limited to specificdetails of construction and arrangement thereof herein illustrated, andthat changes and modifications may occur to one skilled in the artWithout departing from the spirit of my invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. Operating mechanism comprising actuating means and means to beactuated, a collapsible thrust-transmitting linkage interconnecting theaforesaid means, tripping means for maintaining said linkage inthrust-transmitting position, and a spring operatively connected to saidlinkage arranged so that in the thrust-transmitting positon a bias isapplied directly to an intermediate point in said linkage tending tocause collapse of said linkage.

2. Operating mechanism comprising actuating means and means to beactuated, thrust-transmitting structure including a toggleinterconnecting the aforesaid means, tripping means for maintaining saidtoggle in thrust-transmitting position, and a spring operativelyconnected to said toggle arranged so that in the thrust-transmittingposition said spring is fiexed so as to bias the knee of said toggle ina direction tending to cause collapse of said toggle.

3. Operating mechanism comprising actuating means and means to beactuated, thrust-transmitting structure including a toggleinterconnecting the aforesaid means, tripping means for holding saidtoggle in straightened thrust-transmitting position, and a springoperatively connected to the knee of said toggle and arranged to beflexed When said toggle is straightened for exerting a bias at said kneetending to cause collapse of said. to gle.

4. Operating mechanism comprising thrusttransmitting structure, meansfor holding said structure in thrust-transmitting position comprising atripping toggle, a latch pivotally carried by a portion of said toggle,a fixed member, a spring normally biasing said latch into hookedengagement with said fixed member, and tripping means for releasing saidlatch, said latch having a lost motion connection with respect to saidtoggle for engaging by impact and moving said toggle towards releasingposition.

5. Operating mechanism comprising thrusttransmitting structure, atripping toggle for holding said structure in thrust-transmittingposition, a latch pivotally carried by one link of said toggle, a pinand slot connection providing a lost motion connection between saidlatch and said link, an adjustable fixed member arranged to be engagedby said latch, and tripping means for releasing said latch and movingthe same in such direction that said toggle link is moved by impactthrough said lost motion connection to releasing position.

6. Operating mechanism comprising actuating means and means to beactuated, thrust-transmitting structure including a toggleinterconnecting said means, a spring operatively related to a knee ofsaid toggle and arranged to be fiexed when said toggle is straightenedso as to exert a bias tending to cause collapse of said toggle, atripping toggle for holding said first named toggle inthrust-transmitting position, a latch pivotally carried by a link ofsaid tripping toggle and having a limited lost motion connectiontherewith, a fixed member arranged to be en- 7. Operating mechanismcomprising thrust-

